14.12.11
Diabetes deaths ‘preventable’
Up to 24,000 people with diabetes suffer an avoidable death in England every year, according to the National Diabetes Audit.
These deaths are often due to patients not receiving better healthcare checks, having unhealthy lifestyles or not taking medication appropriately. Through better management of their condition, these deaths could be avoided, the audit suggests.
Women with type 1 diabetes aged between 15 and 34 are nine times more likely to die young than the average for that age group. For men with the same condition, they are four times more likely to die young. The gap in death rates between those with diabetes and those without is more extreme with younger age.
The report analysed data for 2.5 million people recorded between 2003/4 and 2009/10 in the National Diabetes Audit, linked with death certificate data from the Office for National Statistics.
Other results demonstrated a strong link between deprivation and increased mortality rates. The rates were lowest in London, with 1.8% for type 1 and 1.2% for type 2. The North East had the highest mortality rates, with 2.4% for type 1 and 1.7% for type 2.
The audit’s lead clinician Dr Bob Young, consultant diabetologist and clinical lead for the National Diabetes Information Service, said: “For the first time we have a reliable measure of the huge impact of diabetes on early death. Many of these early deaths could be prevented.
“The rate of new diabetes is increasing every year. So, if there are no changes, the impact of diabetes on national mortality will increase. Doctors, nurses and the NHS working in partnership with people who have diabetes should be able to improve these grim statistics.”
Care services Minister Paul Burstow said: “I expect the NHS to learn from the best. It’s not rocket science – integrated healthcare can help people manage their diabetes, and stay well and out of hospital.”
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